Cowboys-Saints Blowout Draws Just Over 21 Million Viewers for NBC

The Sunday Night Football contest between the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints gave NBC another primetime victory. Just over 21 million viewers watched the game and it’s the 8th time this season an SNF game drew over 20 million.

Its rating was 12.3 with a 20 share. And in the 18-49 demographic, SNF finished with a 7.8 rating beating AMC’s The Walking Dead. Once again, Sunday Night Football gave NBC a primetime win.

New Orleans had the best local rating with an amazing 56.2/73. Dallas was next with 30.3/47.

Here’s the NBC announcement.

Sunday Night FootballCOWBOYS-SAINTS ON NBC’S SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL #1 PRIMETIME SHOW OF WEEK IN RATING, VIEWERSHIP & DEMOS

Most-Watched Non-NFL Kickoff Saints Primetime Game in 20 Seasons
NBC NFL Telecasts Rank as 8 Most-Watched Primetime Shows Since Sept.

STAMFORD, Conn. – November 12, 2013 – The New Orleans Saints’ lopsided 49-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football was the week’s most-watched primetime program, drawing an average of 21.1 million viewers on NBC, according to official live plus same day national data released today by The Nielsen Company.

The 21.1 million viewers for Cowboys-Saints marks the eighth time that an NBC NFL telecast topped 20 million viewers this season, accounting for TV’s eight most-watched primetime shows since September based on  live plus same day data.

Cowboys-Saints topped last season’s Week 10 SNF game (Houston-Chicago, 20.9 million viewers) and ranks as the most-watched, non-NFL Kickoff primetime game featuring the Saints in 20 seasons (Cowboys-Saints, 27.6 million on ABC, 12/19/94).

The Saints’ runaway victory – highlighted by four Drew Brees touchdown passes — on Sunday Night Football (8:31-11:34 PM ET) also posted the week’s highest primetime rating (12.3/20) and a 7.8 rating in the Adult 18-49 demographic to better by 26% the night’s second-ranked show (The Walking Dead, 6.2).

NBC is averaging 21.5 million viewers per NFL regular-season telecast, the network’s best 10-week start since acquiring the SNF package in 2006.  Primetime TV’s most-watched show this fall, Sunday Night Football has been primetime’s #1 show for each of the past two television seasons.

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR COWBOYS-SAINTS:

1. New Orleans 56.2/73
2. Dallas 30.3/47
3. San Antonio 22.6/34
4. Austin 21.5/35
5. Albuquerque 20.1/30
6. Richmond 20.1/29
7. Memphis 18.4/25
8. Charlotte 17.0/28
9. Las Vegas 16.6/26
10. Norfolk 16.4/24

And that will do it.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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